Located in Aston, close to Villa Park (home of Aston Villa Football Club) and Aston Hall & Park is Aston Parish Church. Also called the Parish Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston. It is on Witton Lane, not far from the Aston Expressway and Spaghetti Junction. The spire is also visible from the nearby M6 motorway.

Parish Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston (September 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

The history of the Parish Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston

The earliest records for a church on this site dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086. Although nothing from this date is visible or survives. The west tower dates to around the 15th Century. The spire was rebuilt in 1776-77 by John Cheshire (1739 - 1812). Otherwise most of the church was designed by Julius Alfred Chatwin, starting in 1879-80, with the south porch added in 1908. The church was built of a brownish-grey sandstone under slate roofs. The church was the tallest building in Birmingham from 1838 until 1855. It is a Grade II* listed building.

Parish Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston (January 2010). Photography by Elliott Brown

Lychgate

The Lychgate is on Witton Lane in Aston, and is the main entrance from the road to the Parish Church of Ss Peter & Paul. Probably dates to the late 19th Century.

Lychgate at the Parish Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston (January 2010). Photography by Elliott Brown

War Memorial

This war memorial in Aston at the Parish Church of Ss Peter & Paul, in memory of the officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and MPN of the 8th Battalion of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who laid down their lives in the First World War (1914-18) and the Second World War (1939-45). For those who fought in Italy, France and Belgium.

War memorial at the Parish Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston (January 2010). Photography by Elliott Brown

Wregg family memorial

This memorial is visible from over the wall on Witton Lane. Looks like an urn on a tall column. Erected in memory of the family of Thomas & Sarah Wregg, who's family members passed away between the 1860s and 1900s.

Wregg family memorial at the Parish Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston (January 2010). Photography by Elliott Brown

View of the spire of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston from Aston Hall Road

There is this view of the spire of Ss Peter & Paul Church from Aston Hall Road in Aston. The A38(M), Aston Expressway is seen to the right. Up ahead is a pair of low bridges that carries the Cross City Line towards Sutton Coldfield and  Lichfield, and the Chase Line (behind) towards Walsall and Rugeley.

Parish Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston (January 2016). Photography by Elliott Brown

View of the spire of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston from the A38(M), Aston Expressway

If leaving the M6 at Junction 6 (aka Spaghetti Junction, real name Gravelly Hill Interchange), you head over the A38(M), Aston Expressway heading back into the City of Birmingham, either by car, bus or coach. From here is a nice view of the spire of Ss Peter & Paul Church, as well as Villa Park to the right (home of Aston Villa Football Club). They are also visible from the car (or coach) from the M6.

Parish Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston (January 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

View from Holborn Hill, Nechells

If you get off the train at Aston, cross the road at the lights on the Lichfield Road, pass The Swan & Mitre pub. Head up Holborn Hill, and turn around. You get this view of the Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston, with Villa Park behind it. The Britannia pub (now closed) is on the left.

Parish Church of Ss Peter & Paul, Aston (January 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown